This article is part of our DraftKings NHL series.
GOALIE
Devan Dubnyk, MIN vs. VGK ($7,300): Picking on the Golden Knights has been a losing formula this season, so Dubnyk should be viewed as a contrarian option. Still, this will be Vegas' third road game in four nights and it won the previous two. The letdown spot is more intriguing because the Wild boast a 17-4-4 record at home, and Dubnyk owns a .924 save percentage at the Xcel Energy Center over the past three years. Additionally, Minnesota has allowed the fewest high-danger scoring chances per 60 minutes (8.9) in the league through its past 25 games.
CENTER
Logan Couture, SAN at CLM ($6,600): With Joe Thornton (knee) out, Couture projects to continue receiving an uptick in ice time. The 28-year-old center has collected four goals, five points and 16 shots through his past five contests to improve to a rock-solid 2.63 points per 60 minutes for the campaign. The Blue Jackets are also struggling defensively with the fifth most high-danger scoring chances allowed per 60 minutes (12.52) in the league since Dec. 1.
Alexander Wennberg, CLM vs. SAN ($4,300): Projected to skate on the No. 1 line with Artemi Panarin and Nick Foligno, Wennberg is positioned to provide value on this salary. The 23-year-old center posted 2.41 points per 60 minutes last season, but he's stumbled to a 1.72 mark this year. There's positive regression ahead offensively for Wennberg, and this should be a favorable schedule spot. The Sharks have lost four straight and are playing their third road game in four nights.
WING
Artemi Panarin, CLM vs. SAN ($6,100): The Russian winger has collected three goals, seven points and 25 shots through his past eight contests while continuing to skate in a top offensive role. As noted, this has the potential to be a soft matchup for the Blue Jackets, and Panarin's 9.3 shooting percentage is well below the 15.3 mark he posted through his first two seasons in the league, so there's also potential statistical correction in his favor.
Teuvo Teravainen, CAR vs. DET ($5,900): The 23-year-old Finn is having a career year with 13 goals, 40 points and 110 shots through 51 games. However, his return to a line with Jordan Staal and countryman Sebastian Aho is most encouraging. The trio has recorded an elite 66.54 Corsi For percentage and 5.02 goals per 60 minutes this season. There's nothing scary about a date with the Red Wings, either.
Jason Zucker, MIN vs. VGK ($5,700): With seven points -- five goals -- through his past seven games, Zucker is locked in. His heater aligns with him reuniting with Mikko Koivu and Mikael Granlund at five-on-five, as the trio have combined for a respectable 3.64 goals per 60 minutes dating back to last season. As noted, this could prove to be a soft schedule spot for Minnesota, too.
DEFENSE
Brent Burns, SAN at CLM ($7,200): This salary doesn't match Burns' current heater. His 30 points through the past 24 games are tied for the league lead during that span, and he's also 21 shots ahead of any other player. Considering the gap between him and the other defensemen from this shallow player pool, Burns is as close to a lineup lock as there is Friday. After all, there's potential for him to pace all rearguards in fantasy points through shots and blocked shots.
Noah Hanifin, CAR vs. DET ($4,100): In the midst of a breakout season, Hanifin is playing sheltered five-on-five minutes with 63.4 percent of his even-strength shifts beginning in the offensive zone. Additionally, he's collected four assists and 12 shots through his past four games and is receiving power-play looks with the second unit. Following his first All-Star experience, the 21-year-old blueliner could be in line for an excellent second half, and his manageable salary has him in play against the Wings.